UAW rival will represent workers at Volkswagen plant

The United Auto Workers union is getting some competition from another organized employee group at Volkswagen's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A second employee organization has been certified to represent workers at the plant under the automaker's new labor policy.

Volkswagen said an outside auditor has verified that the American Council of Employees has achieved support from at least 15% for both the plant's hourly and salaried workers.

That gives ACE the right to raise questions, ideas, concerns directly to Volkswagen management at any time. ACE, which was formed to offer employees with an alternative to the UAW, also means that two rival labor groups will continue to face off at the plant.

The UAW, based in Detroit, fought hard to represent workers at the VW plant, trying to broaden its base to foreign automakers that have built factories in the U.S.., not just Detroit's Big 3 automakers. It lost the vote last year at the plant, but VW later invited groups to represent workers at the plant under its new labor policy.

ACE claims it is not anti-UAW — even though the organization's Web site initially promised to oppose the UAW and keep the union out of Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant.

Sean Moss, president of the group, said ACE has elected officers, has retained legal counsel, and is are already having regular discussions with Volkswagen's management,

"While ACE has slightly less frequent access to meeting areas in the plant, in discussions with management we carry the same weight and capability as the UAW," Moss said in an email.

Despite ACE's membership verification, Mike Cantrell, president of UAW Local 42, said anti-union activity is actually declining at the plant.

"We are focused on representing our members and solidifying our partnership with the Volkswagen Global Group Works Council, which has said clearly that it wants the Chattanooga plant to be a UAW-represented facility," Cantrell said in a statement.

The UAW became the first labor organization to obtain certification under a "Community Organization Engagement Policy," unveiled by the automaker last fall.